Newsroom
Ireland is preparing for one of the most expensive Presidencies of the Council of the European Union in recent years, with estimated spending approaching €293 million. The figure is more than three times higher than the expected cost of Cyprus' current presidency and significantly above Denmark's.
Cyprus estimates that its six-month presidency will cost around €95 million, while Denmark's presidency is expected to total approximately €80 million.
A large share of Ireland's projected budget, about €125 million, has been earmarked for policing and security. The country is preparing to host numerous high-level political gatherings between July and December, including the European Political Community summit in November, which is expected to bring together leaders from 47 European countries. Cyprus did not host an event of that scale during its presidency.
Every six months, a different EU member state takes over the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union, chairing ministerial meetings in Brussels while organising hundreds of official events at home.
Irish opposition politician John Brady, who chairs the country's Public Accounts Committee, said the planned spending is substantially higher than that of recent presidencies and stressed the importance of careful oversight and transparency.
European Affairs Minister Thomas Byrne said the final cost has not yet been confirmed, although he acknowledged that overall expenditure would be substantial. Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs said detailed planning is underway to keep spending under control while delivering the country's policy programme and more than 250 presidency-related meetings across Ireland.
Comparisons between presidencies are not always straightforward because countries calculate and report costs differently. An analysis by the Czech Supreme Audit Office of 15 EU presidencies found that Prague's 2022 presidency, which cost about €95 million in today's prices, was slightly below the average.
Ireland's previous presidency in 2013 was originally budgeted at €60 million, excluding security costs, although the final bill came to just over €40 million after strict cost-saving measures during a period of economic austerity.
According to Cypriot officials, around €68 million of Cyprus' estimated presidency spending has gone towards operational costs, including security, while a further €27 million has been allocated to infrastructure and other capital projects. The final figure could still increase once expenses shared across government ministries are fully calculated.
Security planning has become a major priority for Ireland following incidents that exposed weaknesses in its defence capabilities. During a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last year, unidentified drones entered Irish airspace, prompting renewed investment in security systems, including counter-drone technology.
Irish police have been preparing for the presidency since 2024, studying arrangements used by other member states and strengthening specialist capabilities. Police Commissioner Justin Kelly has said the force is equipped to respond to potential threats, while Minister Byrne expressed confidence that Ireland is ready to deliver a safe and successful EU presidency.
